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1) Re-signing Vollmer. Vollmer is a Pro-Bowl caliber RT, and it makes me feel good knowing he is signed for the majority of the rest of Brady's career.

Honorable Mention: Getting Aqib Talib back for a year. We don't know if Dennard will be spending his early 20's in the Big House, so this was a huge signing, gives our secondary some stability. Sign him for an extension if he proves to stay healthy and play well this season.

1) Re-signing Vollmer. Vollmer is a Pro-Bowl caliber RT, and it makes me feel good knowing he is signed for the majority of the rest of Brady's career.

Honorable Mention: Getting Aqib Talib back for a year. We don't know if Dennard will be spending his early 20's in the Big House, so this was a huge signing, gives our secondary some stability. Sign him for an extension if he proves to stay healthy and play well this season.

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I like Danny Amendola I think if he can be taught the proper way to elude contact and position his body for hits he can be a durable and reliable #1 option for all of TB's remaining years.

Given that they spent the $$ on Amendola as Welker I'd say they haven't.

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Amendola is the younger, faster guy with higher upside...although possibly more injury prone to Welker. I think that is a wash.

Armstead is also a free agent, so, BB has addressed the dline. Vega possily also.

Talib, Vollmer, Arrington were all from last year, so, not really any upgrade there. Wash.

Washington in favor of Woodhead made that a wash.

Losing Lloyd will need to be addressed in the draft.

Losing Thomas will need to be addressed somehow.

BB didn't make a huge splash, but, did shore up any major needs, sans the pass rush (this is par for the course). A cb would have been nice for depth and injuries/suspensions. Possibly in the draft of free agency.

Amendola is the younger, faster guy with higher upside...although possibly more injury prone to Welker. I think that is a wash.

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LMAO at those claiming Amendola has a "higher upside" than Welker. If Amendola plays his best he might be able to replace a big chunk of Welker's production, but that's it. The idea that he is going to have 140 REC, 1500+ yards and lead the league in YAC and first downs by a mile is batsh.t crazy.
he will have been really successful if he simply can replace 80-90% of Welker's production, and setting the bar for him at higher production than Welker is flat out ridiculous. And calling it "a wash" is equally ridiculous. If in three years Amendola has 360 REC, 3,600 yards and has led the league in first downs and YAC for 3 years it will be "a wash," but to this point Amendola has done nothing to suggest this is a break even situation. If you have to lose Welker then bringing in Amendola is a decent effort to mitigate that loss, but there is nothing in his history that makes it "even."

I like Amendola and think he will do a good job for them but claims like this and Ken's claim that Amendola's production exceeds Welker's in some instances are simply not supported by the facts, and anyone who says otherwise really needs to back it up with facts, which to this point none have.

Talib, Vollmer, Arrington were all from last year, so, not really any upgrade there. Wash.

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Talib for an entire season from training camp on will be a significant upgrade. The initial 2/3 of 2012 was a mess in the defensive backfield. There is no question in my mind that the Patriots will be better with a unit of Arrington, Dennard and Talib at corner, and McCourty, Wilson and Wilson at safety from Week 1.

Talib's signing means that McCourty can start training camp at safety. He's got a ways to go to be a first-tier safety. The signing of Talib was a domino that made the entire defensive backfield better.

Nothing stands out in particular, but I am content overall with the approach the FO has taken this offseason.

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What stands out to me is that they have been able to maintain the status quo, for the most part, despite being loaded with free agents. They are worse at WR but i expect that to be addressed several times and end up close to where they were if not better when all is said and done. Amendola should be able to replace about 80% of Welker's production if he stays healthy and good seasons from Gronk and AH should more than offset the rest of it. If they are injured however then they are pretty much screwed, as Welker was the one guy they could really depend on.

Keeping Talib, Arrington and Cole maintains last season's cornerback corps and Wilson brings leadership and big time physicality to their safety corps. If I-Dowling can get on the field and Dennard improves in his second season then they should have a better secondary next season.

Re-signing Vollmer long term is probably the most important move as it sets their OL for years to come and allows them to concentrate on other needs instead of creating new ones.

Washington brings them an explosive KR and can run some of the plays they used Woodhead for, and Vereen should take on a bigger role and replace the rest of Woodheads production plus a whole lot more.

Armstead was a nice pick up, we will see what he contributes?

They still have work to do but other than WR they are a better team than last season, but much of that is because of stability and continuity with higher expectations for many of their young players.

LMAO at those claiming Amendola has a "higher upside" than Welker. If Amendola plays his best he might be able to replace a big chunk of Welker's production, but that's it. The idea that he is going to have 140 REC, 1500+ yards and lead the league in YAC and first downs by a mile is batsh.t crazy.
he will have been really successful if he simply can replace 80-90% of Welker's production, and setting the bar for him at higher production than Welker is flat out ridiculous. And calling it "a wash" is equally ridiculous. If in three years Amendola has 360 REC, 3,600 yards and has led the league in first downs and YAC for 3 years it will be "a wash," but to this point Amendola has done nothing to suggest this is a break even situation. If you have to lose Welker then bringing in Amendola is a decent effort to mitigate that loss, but there is nothing in his history that makes it "even."

I like Amendola and think he will do a good job for them but claims like this and Ken's claim that Amendola's production exceeds Welker's in some instances are simply not supported by the facts, and anyone who says otherwise really needs to back it up with facts, which to this point none have.

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I hated losing Welker, he is one of my favorite Patriots of all time. BUT, it's done, so there is nothing we can do about it. As far as Amendola, I think he comes into New England at virtually the same spot in his career as Welker did in 2007. Welker wasn't a record breaking possible Hall of Famer in 2007. But 6 years later, w/Brady as his QB, he had FIVE 100 catch seasons (a record), and several other records. Not saying Amenodola can top or even equal that, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him catch 80 passes a season as a Patriot. Plus I think the other receivers will get the other 30+ extra catches that Welker might have gotten. Possibly the offense will be more spread out as far as catches.

I hated losing Welker, he is one of my favorite Patriots of all time. BUT, it's done, so there is nothing we can do about it. As far as Amendola, I think he comes into New England at virtually the same spot in his career as Welker did in 2007. Welker wasn't a record breaking possible Hall of Famer in 2007. But 6 years later, w/Brady as his QB, he had FIVE 100 catch seasons (a record), and several other records. Not saying Amenodola can top or even equal that, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him catch 80 passes a season as a Patriot. Plus I think the other receivers will get the other 30+ extra catches that Welker might have gotten. Possibly the offense will be more spread out as far as catches.

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Pretty much how i see it, Amendoal should be able to make up around 80% of welker's production and possibly a littlemore if he stays healthy and gets on the same page as Brady right out of the gate. people claiming he will exceed welker's numbers are high. Is it possible, yes, is it likely, no way.